Cover locking means for a container



Feb. 28, 1956 w, c, GEORGE 2,736,487

COVER LOCKING MEANS FOR A CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Marqh 3.9, 1952 Mum 6? 65mm v YMM Feb. 28, 1956 w. C.GEORGE COVER LOCKING MEANS FOR A CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1952 llvviwfaz United States Patent COVER LOCKING MEANS FOR A CONTAINER Walter C. George, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Gaylord Container Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Maryland Application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,417

Claims. (Cl. 229-45 This invention appertains to means for securely and rigidly locking a container cover in closed position, and more particularly to a locking means for rigidly securing a cover to a body wall of a container of the type used to transport bottled beverages and the like. The container employing this invention may be made of solid fibreboard, corrugated fibreboard or any other suitable material and is particularly adapted to multiple-trip service.

Many and varied attempts have been made to provide a case or carrier for transporting bottled beverages of the type used to carry 24 bottles of beer and the like, wherein the cover would be locked into the body portion to prevent weaving or relative movement between the component parts and resulting weakness and failure to the container when handled. These attempts have included bracing requiring metals and wood as well as reinforcements of fibreboard. There has, however, long been a need for a locking means to rigidly and securely lock a cover to the body portion without requiring any additional material, and at the same time present a neat, flush, unobstructed exterior surface.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a smooth, flush lock for securely fastening a cover to the body portion of a container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container cover lock which requires no additional material other than that already present in the container.

A further object is to provide a lock for a container cover which is entirely contained within the plane of the cover of the container, thus allowing the cover to be folded flatwise against the side of the container in the open position, without presenting projecting obstructions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cover lock which in the closed position of the cover will substantially eliminate all weaving and relative motion between the components of the container.

A still further object is to provide a container cover lock which will be automatically secured without manual adjustment when one container is stacked upon another.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent on further study of the construction and operation of the cover lock of this container.

This invention is embodied in a container having a cover and a body portion and comprises a compound dove-tail locking means having an outwardly flaring eX- tension on one part of the container and a complemental recess on an adjacent part of the container adapted to snugly receive the flaring extensions in interlocking engagement, the extension and recess being so shaped as to prevent movement of the cover with respect to the body in any horizontal direction and to restrain upward movement of the cover with respect to the body portion.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and wherein like numerals and symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 is a typical container end panel shown in its flat blank form.

Fig. 2 is a typical container body blank shown in flat form to reveal certain details.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a completed container employing this invention shown with the cover in open position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 3 with a cover in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container disclosing a modified form of the cover lock.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lock shown in Fig. 3, with the cover in open position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lock shown in Fig. 4, with the cover inan intermediate position, preparatory to being snapped into closed position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lock shown in Fig. 4 with the cover in closed position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the modified form of lock shown in Fig. 5 with the cover in an intermediate position, preparatory to being snapped into closed position Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lock shown in Fig. 9 with the cover in the closed position.

Referring to Fig. 1 wherein an end panel blank 1 is illustrated, the blank is characterized by the wall panel 2, a reinforcing flange 3 and a stiifening member 4. The blank 1 is formed with marginal cut-outs 5, a central cutout 6 and a handhole 7. The cut-outs 5 and 6 are aligned with a score 8 defining the fold line between the wall panel 2 and the flange 3. The score 9 defines a fold line between the flange and its stiffening member 4. The diecut portions provided along the score 8 define novel dovetail or flaring projections 10 later to be described. Handhole 7 provided in the wall panel 2 is optional and may be omitted if desired.

The body blank 15 illustrated by Fig. 2 is provided with a bottom panel 16 and two side wall panels 17. Longitudinal scores 18 define the margins of the bottom panel 16 and side wall panels 17, as well as the margins of the cover panels 19 A pair of parallel transverse scores 20 define the ends of the bottom panel 16 and the side wall panels 17, as well as the ends of the cover panels 19. The body blank 15 is further provided with flanges 21 separated by slots 22. The cover panels 19 are provided with end cover flanges 23, the flanges being foldable along scores which are continuations of the transverse scores 29 previously noted. The cover panels 19 are also provided with longitudinal cover flanges 24 each defined by a longitudinal score 25. Portions of the end cover flanges 23 and end portions of the cover panel 19 are diecut to provide novel dove-tail or flaring recesses 26 later to be described.

The container may be assembled in any suitable manner, however a preferred way is to first fold the side wall panels 17 vertically upward to right angular relation to the bottom panel 16. The body flanges 21 may then be folded inwardly into right angular relation with their respective body panels. Each end wall panel 2 is fabricated by folding the stiffening member 4 about the score 9 into flatwise relation with the reinforcing flange 3. The reinforcing fiange 3 and the folded stiffening member 4 are then folded about the score 8 into flatwise relation with the inner face of the end panel 2. With the end panel blank 1 folded in this manner, the stiffening member 4 and the reinforcing flange 3 are permanently secured in their folded relation, and the dove-tailed or flaring projections 10 (Figs. 3 and 6) become formed. That is, the projections 10 are formed by the adjacent marginal projecting portions of reinforcing flange 3 and the end panel The fabricated end wall panel 2 is now inserted into the container and the side and bottom outer margins are secured to the inner face of the body flanges 21, with the folded reinforcing flange 3 and stiffening member positioned flatwise against the inner face of the end panel 2 as hereinbefore described. The and cover flanges 23 are then folded inwardly about the continuations of the transverse score 29 and permanently secured to the und rface of the cover panel 19. In a like manner longitudinal cover flanges 24 are folded about the endmost score 25 and secured in flatwise relation to the underface of the cover panel 19. The cover panels 19 are now folded inwardly about the longitudinal score 18 defining the inner margin thereof until the dove-tail projections in the plane of the end panels 2 firmly engage the margin of the dove-tail recesses 26 formed in the plane of the cover in the double thickness portion formed by the infolded flange 23 and the cover 19. The container is now ready for use.

The locking means between the cover and the walls of the container consists of a compound dove-tail locking joint substantially flush with the outer surfaces of both the cover and the body wall of the container. In one form of the invention, the locking joint comprises a projection or male part flaring outwardly beyond the marginal edges of the end wall and a complemental recess or female part in an outwardly extended portion of the cover member. In another form, the projection may be on an outwardly extending portion of the cover member and the complemental recess in an outwardly extending portion of the end panel.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7, it will be observed that the projection or male portion 1% of the locking means is formed by the marginal projecting portions of the end panel 2 and reinforcing flange 3 when the latter, along with the stiffening member 4 is folded downwardly and permanently secured to the inner face of the end panel 2. The cutout 6 in the end panel 2 as shown in Fig. l is of such shape that in the described folded and secured position, the end wall portion 4a of the projection or male portion it of the lock is relatively short in width and the reinforcing flange portion .1 thereof is relatively long in width. Both of these portions are foldably connected together along the score 8. Thus, when these foldably connected adjacent flange portions are folded together in flatwise relation, as described, the projection it) takes on a dove-tail shape, flaring from a relatively narrow width on the outer face of the end wall portion 40 to a relatively wide width in the interior face of the reinforcing flange portion 41. By making the marginal end wall portions 40 narrower than the marginal reinforcing flange projections .31, it is possible to achieve the dove-tailed eflect without using expensive oblique die cuts. Therefore the dovetail or flared sides 42 of the projection 10, due to manufacturing expediency and economy are stepped rather than smoothly flared. The same is also true for the end edges 43 of the dove-tail or flaring complemental recess 26 which are oriented or oppositely formed through the cutouts (Fig. 2) in the plies of the cover panel 19 and the overlapping flap 23 thereon. However, if desired, the end edges of the dove-tail portions 42 and 43 may be obliquely cut to produce a smooth flaring effect in the end edges of the rojection or male member and the complemental recess or female part 26 respectively.

A satisfactory snapped engagement and disengagement of the cover with the container wall is effected by the hereinbefore described projections and complemental recesses when the end edges 42 of the flaring projections 10 and end edges 43 of the recess 26 are formed substantially at right angles to the folded end edge of end panel 2 and the cover 19 respectively. However, to provide even greater effectiveness and security against accidental opening displacement of the cover from the body, the

edges 42 may be and are preferably undercut at an angle of about 10 or less and not exceeding about 15 as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Thus the end edges 42 do not have a right angular relationship with the adjacent upper edge of the wall panel 2, as provided in simple dove-tail joints, but extend at slightly less than with respect to the upper edges of panel 2, thereby forming a compound dove-tail joint releasably locking the cover into the end panel against vertical movement. The end edges 43 of the recess 2e are correspondingly angularly shaped so that in the closed position of the cover as illustrated in Fig. 8, the end edges 42 of the projections and the edges 43 of the recesses will be in abutment throughout.

When the cover panels 19 approach the horizontal position for closing, the lower edges of the end margins 43 of the dove-tail recesses 26 come in contact with the upper end edge 42. of the dove-tail projections it). As the cover is forced downwardly into a horizontal locking position, the inwardly flaring character of the mating novel dove-tail recesses and projections forces the upper margin of the end wall into snug contact with the end edges of the cover panels 19, thereby bracing the container walls against deflection, eliminating any play or looseness between the end walls and the cover panels, and preventing weaving of the components. This acts to integrate or unitize the entire container structure at its weakest and, hence, most vulnerable spots. When the container is lifted by one handhole, the comparatively weak unsupported upper portion of the end panel is rigidly and securely braced against deflection by the wedging action of the dove-tail projections it within the dove-tail recesses 26. The wedging action of the flared locking components provides for easy opening and closing of the cover panels. When one container is stacked on top of a partially opened container, the cover panels of the bottom container will automatically close into the locked position. Likewise, the container covers are easily opened by a slight finger pressure underneath the end edges thereof. However, the wedging action of the flared components is such that the cover panels will not accidentally become released.

When it is desired to unload the container, it is possible to fold the cover panels 19 in flatwise relation against the outer face of the side panels 17. Since the novel locking elements of this invention have no inwardly projecting portions, the outwardly folded cover panel 19 will occupy a minimum of space. Furthermore, when it is desired to load the container, the locking elements provide a smooth unobstructed interior face so that in the use of automatic loading machines, bottles or other objects can be easily dropped into the container.

The locking means of this invention also readily admits of further pre-fabrication of body blanks than many of the previously developed carriers. If desired, the longitudinal cover flanges 24 and the end cover flanges 23 may be secured to the underface of the cover panels 19 by the manufacturer of the container without loss of shipping space. The user of the container will then only have to insert and secure the end wall panels 2 into the container body. Such a practice has heretofore been impossible with many of the carriers already in existence, especially those having inwardly projecting flanges on the cover.

The cover locking means may be modified in many Ways without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. An example of a modification is illustrated in fragmentary detail in Fig. 5 and in enlarged fragmentary detail in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein the projecting element or male portion 30 of the locking means is formed on the end edge of the cover panel 19 instead of On the upper margin of the end panel 2 and the folded-over reinforcing flange 3 as shown in Fig. 3. The resulting projection 30 has end edges 32 of modified dove-tail or flaring form. The end edges 32 may be and are preferably undercut at an angle slightly less than right angular relation to the adjacent outer end edge of the cover member 19'- as hereinbefore described with respect to the form of the invention wherein the projection is integral with the wall panel 2. Likewise in this modified form, the recess or female portion 31 of the lock is formed in the upper margin of the end wall panel instead of in the end edge of the cover panel as shown in Fig. 3. The recess 31 also has end edges 33 which are flared and act to receive the end edges of projection 30 with a snap fit. The operation of the lock in this form of the invention is precisely as hereinbefore described. Variations of either form of the present invention will be readily suggested by the present disclosures.

The foregoing variations of the invention have common structural characteristics in that the locking joint comprises a projection or male portion on one part and a complementary recess or female portion in another part, the joint is substantially flush with the outer surfaces of both parts of the body, the projection and recess each are confined within the plane of the wall or cover, as the case may be, and the projections extend outwardly beyond the marginal edges of the wall, whether it is the cover or the end wall of the body. The paperboard material from which the container and cover are fabricated provides the necessary rigidity in combination with its inherent flexibility and resilient characteristics.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container having a polygonal shaped body consisting of connected together opposed upstanding wall members and a bottom and being open-topped, and a complemental shaped hinged closure member for the open top; means for releasably locking the cover member to the body wall member and preventing movement between the cover and wall member in any direction in the plane of the cover, said means comprising a compound dove-tail joint, a portion of which is carried by each of said members, the portion of the joint carried by one of the members being an outwardly flaring dovetail, the inner longitudinal face thereof being longer than the outer face, the free end edges of said dove-tail being formed at an angle less than 90 with respect to the adjacent upper edge of said one member, and the portion of said joint carried by the other of said members being in the form of a recess substantially complemental in outline to said flaring dove-tail, the said joint in the closed position locking said cover to said body member against displacement in the plane of the cover in any direction and restraining movement of the cover upward away from said body wall sufficiently to prevent accidental displacement during handling.

2. The container structure as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the flaring dove-tail extends beyond a marginal edge of one of the members and the recess is disposed within the marginal edge of the other member.

3. The container structure as defined in and by claim 2 wherein the said flaring dove-tail forms a tenon which is an integral part of one of the members and extends beyond the marginal edge thereof and the recess is formed in the other member.

4. The container structure as defined in and by claim 3 wherein the said projection and the said recess are both in the plane of their respective members.

5. The container structure as defined in and by claim 4 wherein there are spaced projections on one of the members and complementally spaced recesses on the other said member.

6. The container structure as defined in and by claim 1 wherein the projection and the recess constitute a compound dove-tail joint and the cover member is substantially right-angularly disposed with respect to the wall member.

7. The container structure as defined in and by claim 6 wherein the projection and a complemental recess comprise the said compound dove-tail joint and the projection is carried by and extends outwardly from the cover member and is integral therewith and the recess is formed directly in an upper marginal edge portion of the wall member of the body and the completed joint is substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the cover member and body wall member.

8. The container structure as defined in and by claim 6 wherein the projection and complemental recess comprise the said compound dove-tail joint and the projection is carried by and extends outwardly from the wall member and is integral therewith and the recess is formed directly in a marginal edge portion of the cover member and the completed joint is substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the cover member and body wall member.

9. In a container formed of paperboard or other bendable material and having a polygonal shaped body consisting of connected together opposed upstanding wall members and a bottom and being open-topped, and a complementary shaped closure member for the open top hinged to a body wall, each of said members having a folded over flap defining a double wall marginal edge thereof, the said folded over flaps being in fixed sub stantially parallel relation on their respective members; means for releasably locking the cover member to the body wall member and preventing movement between the cover and wall member in any direction in the plane of the cover, said means comprising a compound dovetail joint, a portion of which is carried by each of said members, the portion of the joint carried by one of the members being an outwardly flaring dove-tail projection, the inner longitudinal face thereof being longer than the outer face, the free end edges of said dove-tail projection being formed at a angle less than with respect to the adjacent upper end edge of said one member, and the portion of said joint carried by the other of said members being in the form of a recess substantially complemental in outline to said flaring dove-tail projection, the said joint in the closed position providing an effective lock, preventing accidental displacement of the cover upwardly from the body but allowing the cover to be manually snapped from the body to release the same or snap lock thereto.

10. The container structure as defined in and by claim I 9 wherein the completed compound dove-tail joint is substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the cover member and the body wall member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,519,974 Ordway Dec. 16, 1924 2,250,746 Burr July 29, 1941 2,344,852 DEsposito Mar. 21, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,812 Great Britain 1883 

